Rolling Stone

2. Demons From My Younger Days

"Shit."

You muttered out loud as your keys fumbled and hit the ground, clattering against the concrete. You didn't have time for this. Not today. It was already 8:06, and Lake Shore was packed—typical. You darted down the steps from your mom's place, your heart racing in time with your heels hitting the pavement. First day at Stark, and you were already about to be that girl.

Of course, you missed your train. You were running through worst-case scenarios in your head as you squeezed between cars, creeping along in the usual Chicago traffic. This was not how the first day was supposed to go, not when everything else felt so carefully calculated.

"Perfect," you muttered, glancing at the clock as it ticked closer to 8:30. "Let me be the late one." Your fingers drummed on the wheel, frustration creeping in. Stark Industries wasn't some basic accounting firm, this was the spot, the one you worked for, and today of all days, you couldn't afford to slip.

You finally rolled into the parking garage, 8:21 flashing on your dashboard. Not too late. Not technically. Grabbing your bag, you slammed the car door and hurried toward the elevator, only catching the glimpse of another girl heading in the same direction.

"Twenty bucks for parking, though? For real?" She rolled her eyes and gave you a half-smile, locking her car behind her. .
"Aye, at least they didn't ask for your liver." Looking at the price.

She grinned, the tension breaking for a moment. "You here for the Stark internship?" "Yeah," you replied, offering a smile. "Finance Intern, I'm a sophomore at Howard."

"Jasmine, HR intern. Almost done with undergrad," she said, her handshake sealing an unspoken pact between the two of you, being able to walk in and say you feel comfortable around at least one person in this building.

Inside Stark Industries, the polished hallways gleamed with promise. The walls felt tall and metallic compared to where home was. This space felt sterile, expensive, and as if you did one thing wrong, the S&P funds would drop drastically. You'd gone from club nights 5 blocks away and designer bags to tailored pants and blazers, and each step further distanced you from the life you were familiar with. You could feel the change in the air, it felt like everything around you was shifting. This world was different than the part time rotational you did at Deloitte your freshman year in DC.

This was the company that funded the Avengers, renewable energy, and basically just the biggest technology company in the world. Up on the 8th floor, you found yourself surrounded by dozens of other interns, all nervous as hell but you kept your composure, come on this wasn't your first rodeo. The recruiter started her spiel, "Welcome to Stark Industries. Look around say hello, because tomorrow your group is going to look much smaller" I looked around seeing the face of those in fear, but this isn't my first rodeo, I know how these things kinda look. " Don't worry, no ones getting fired. We're going to sort you into your service lines today, but by tomorrow, things will shift."

When she called out Early Career, you stood with a group of twelve. Everyone in this group being in their first or second year of college. The others glanced at you, sizing each other up, but honestly you couldn't give less than a fuck. Some guys staring you down as well for other reasons, but even then you didn't care.

Then he walked in. Tony Stark.

Navy blue Saint Laurent suit, messy hair, sunglasses hanging at the collar of his shirt. You looked at him up and down. His presence shifted the room before he'd even spoke up. You'd seen him millions of times, on magazine covers, YouTube videos, TV, but here he was in person. "Is that?" You mumbled next to Jasmine. But you didn't need a confirmation, you've crushed on that man since you were a young teen, but here he was. In the flesh.